Reconditioned Mercedes Citan Gearbox

Citan 1.5 CDI from 2012 to 2021: five or six speeds depending on the generation

The first-generation Mercedes Citan is built on a Renault technical platform: its sole diesel engine, the 1.5 CDI with engine code OM607 (derived from the Renault K9K), never received an automatic or automated manual gearbox. The manual/automatic question therefore does not arise here, but another one does: five or six speeds? Both families coexist across the 2012–2021 period, and they are not interchangeable.

Five or six speeds: what determines the right gearbox

The 5-speed gearboxes (references of the JR5 type) correspond to the earliest versions of the Citan, whilst the 6-speed units (references TL4, TL6 or 700xxx) are fitted to the more recent variants or to trim levels with a higher payload capacity. The vehicle's year of manufacture alone is not enough to determine which applies: two Citans from the same year can have different ratios depending on payload and configuration. The code on the original gearbox, readable on the casing, remains the decisive factor for identifying the exact reference.

Key points to watch on the 1.5 CDI / OM607

The Citan is used primarily as a light van on short urban cycles — a type of use that places heavy demands on the lower gear positions and the selector mechanism. The most common symptoms on these transmissions are difficult gear changes when cold, jumping out of first gear or reverse, and premature wear of the synchromesh rings on the lower ratios. These issues are independent of the number of speeds and affect both gearbox families covered in this collection.